Speed-regulating mechanism



March 23, 1926.. 1,577,618

H. c. FORD SPEED REGULATING MECHANISM Filed May 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 75 4 11 ly g a N v.

ATTORNEY- March 23 1926. 1,577,618

H. c. FORD SPEED REGULATING MECHANISM Filed May 6, 1922 2 SheetsSheet 2 ikiwl if/ J4TTORAO5K5.

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANNIBAL C. FORD, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FORD INSTRUMENT COH- PANY, 1110., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPEED-REGULATING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANNIBAL C. FORD, residing at Jamaica, in the county of Queens, State of New York,'have invented certain new and nseful lmprovements in Speed-Regulating Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention which relates to speed regulating-mechanism has for its principal 0 jects the provision of apparatus of simple and inexpensive construction for maintaining constant the speed of a prime mover and which shall be so constructed that if for any reason the speed of the prime mover is not checked by the mechanism the moving parts of the latter will not be injured when the normal speed is exceeded.

These objects of the invention together with others which will hereinafter appear are attained by employing an epicyclic gear train to one member of which the'prime mover is connected, while to the second member of the train a speed limiting device such as an escapement, a centrifugal governor, or the like, is connected. In' order that the speed limiting device may be driven there is connected to the third member of the gear train a device for applyin a constant torque thereto against which t e speed limiting device reacts.- The arrangement is such that for a particular speed of the pri ne mover, as determined by the characterisl ics of the apparatus, there will be no movement of the third member. with respect to the first and second members of the gear train, but if the speed of the prime mover difiers from such particular speed there will be a relative 1 movement of the third member which, in.

accordance with the invention, is utilized for actuating a contact device for altering the speed of the prime mover bya suitable electrical control system. 1

vThe torque .may be applied to the third member of the gear train by means of a spring connected to a lever adapted to bear against a cam connected to the third member but which may move with respect to the lever when there is any movement of this member due to variations in. of the prime mover. Ifhe cam against which the lever bears is so constructed, that when such 1922. Serial No. 558,961.

the speed of the prime mover will cause a reverse movement of the third member of the gear train and thereby actuate the contact device to cause an opposite changev in the speed of the prime mover with the result that its s eed will be closely regulated, and the move le part of the contact device. will be continually oscillating to efiect the regulation of the prime mover through the electrical control system.

If for any reason the increasing speed of the prime mover is not checked by the control system the third member of the gear train will continue to turn with reqmct to the other two members carrying with it the cam against which the lever bears without injuryto the parts of the apparatus.

The particular nature of the invention together with other objects and advantages thereof will appear more clearly from a description of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a simplified diagram oi an arrangement for controlling an electric motor in which an escapement is used as the speed limiting device,

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram showing the use of a centrifugal governor as the speed limiting device,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation ofa preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the interior of the apparatus with the front plate andthe parts mounted thereon removed,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation as'vl'ewed from the left of Figs. 3 and 4, and V Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the torque applying device and contact mechanism 'of the apparatus.

The general structure of the apparatus and its rinci le of operation will first be describe wit the aid of the simplified a pair of gears mounted upon a spider 14 attached to a shaft 15 upon which the first and second gears 11 and 12 respectively are vloosely mounted in accordance with the usual construction of this particular type of epicyclic gear train.

The first member 11 is provided with a gear 16 meshing with a worm 17 on a shaft 18 connected to the prime mover, the speed of which is to be regulated. For purposes of illustration the prime mover has been shown as an electric motor 19 provided with an armature 20 and, as shown in Fig. 1,' a series field 21. The motor is supplied with current by mains 22 in one of which is inserted a resistance 23 adapted to be cut in or out of the circuit by the contact device of the apparatus as will hereinafter appear.

The second member 12 of the epicyclic gear train is provided with a gear 24 which through a gear 25 and pinion 26 is connected to an escapement 27 which may be of anysuitable construction and is here shown as consisting of an escape wheel 28, pallet 29, fork 30, roller 31 and spring 32.

The shaft 15 of the third member 13 of the epicyclic gear train carries a member 33,

preferably in the form of a hexagonal cam, against which a roller 34 mounted at one end of abellcrank lever 35 is pressed by means of a spring 36 connected to the other end of the lever and to a fixed point 37. Mounted upon the lever 35 is a movable part of a contact device the particular construction of which will be described subsequently in connection with Figs. 3 to 6. So far as the simplified diagrams are concerned this contact device may be regarded as composed of an arm 38 mounted upon the lever 35 and carrying a contact point 39 adapted to coact with a fixed contact point 40 when the roller 34 bears against the central portion of one of the faces of the cam 33. A conductor 41 is connected between one end of the resistance 23 and the arm 38 while another conductor 42 is connected between the other end of the resistance and the fixed contact point 40, the arrangement being such that when the contact points 39 and 40 are in engagement the resistance Wlll be short circuited to allow the maximun'r first member 11 is rotated by the motor 19,

the second member 12 will also be rotated to drive the escapement through gears 24 ment of the third member 13, which through the shaft 15 will turn the cam 33 to displace the bell crank lever 35 and the arm 38 mounted thereon to separate the contact points 39 and 40. When this occurs the short-circuit about the resistance 23 will be removed, and the insertion of this resistance into the circuit of the motor 19 will reduce the speed of the latter. The resistance should be of such magnitude as to reduce the speed of the motor below the predetermined value, thus causing a reverse movement of the third member 13 of the gear train to turn the shaft 15 and the cam 33 carried thereon in the opposite direction. The cam face againstwhich the roller 34 bears will thus be brought into such a position with respect to the roller as to permit contact point 39 to engage point'4O to establish the short circuit about the resistance 23 and allow the speed of the motor to increase. As soon as this occurs the third member 13 will be moved in the opposite direction until the contact points 39 and 40 ond members 11 and 12 and turn the cam 33 under the roller 34 which is pressed against it by the spring 36 connected to the other end of the bell crank lever 35. Since there is no opposition to such movement of the parts of the apparatus the will not be injured in any way even if t e motor exceeds its predetermined eed.

The apparatus 5 own in the simplified diagram of Fig. 2 is substantially the same as that of Fig.'1 except that the motor 19 is provided with a shunt field 21- and the escapement27- is replaced by a centrifugal governor 43. This governor consists of a pair of relatively heavy-members 44 connected to each other by a spring 45 and piv- .member 13' to travel about the first and secotally attached to a piece 46 which is mounted upon a shaft 47 to which thepinion 26 1s a-ttached. For the purpose of regulatlng the speed of the governor the members 44 are provided with stops 48 adapted to come mto engagement with a circular plate 49 threaded upon a piece supported in any suitable manner and which may also serve as a hearing for the end of the shaft 47. The plate 49 is provided with teeth cooperating wlth a worm 51 having a knob 52 by which it may be turned to alter the position of the plate 49 upon the piece 50. Centrifugal force swings themembers 44 outward, and, when to a certain degree. moves the stops 48 into braking contact with the plate 49, and thereby limits the outward movement of the centrifugal 'members 44 as they are rotated when the motor 19 is in operation.

As in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the torque applied to the third member 13 of the epicyclic gear tram by the spring 36 causes the motor to drive the centrifugal governor, as otherwise the motor would not drive the governor because the member 13 would simply travel about the first and second members without trans mitting any motion from the former to the latter. By applying a torque to the third member the centrifugal governor may be driven by the motor, and the movement of the third member with respect to the first and second members due to changes in speed of the motor may be utilized for actuating the contact device to effect the regulation of the speed of the motor in the manner. de-

' scribed in connection with the apparatus of Fig. 1.

A complete apparatus embodying the 1nvention is'shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive in which the parts corresponding to those shown in the simplified diagrams of Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by similar reference characters.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive the apparatus comprises a front .plate 54 and a rear plate held in proper spaced relation by a top plate 56 and transverse bars 57, thus making a unitary frame which may be attached to the mechanism which is to be driven by the prime mover the speed of which is regulated by the apparatus.

Between the front and rear plates is mounted an epicyclic gear train consisting of spur gears 11 and 12 corresponding to the similarly numbered bevel gears of Figs. 1 and 2 and constituting the first and second members of the gear train. The third member of the train is, in the form shown in the complete apparatus, made up of two pinions 13 and 13 meshing with each other and with the spur gears 11- and 12 respectively. The pinions are mounted in a frame or spider 14 arranged between the spur gears 11 and 12 on a shaft 15 mounted between the front and rear plates 54 and 55 and onwhich the spur gears 11 and 12 are loosely mounted. The gear 16 of the form of apparatus shown in the simplified diagrams is omitted in the complete apparatus, and the first member 11 of the gear train is driven directly by the worm 17 on the shaft 18 mounted between the top plate 56 and a plate 58 preferably attached to the lower faces of the bottom transverse bars 57. The shaft 18 is provided with a gear 59 by which the shaft may be rotated from the prime mover by suitable gear connections. In a similar manner the gear 24 shown in the simplified form of apparatus is omitted and the gear 25 for driving the escapement 27 meshes directly with the spur gear 12 constituting the second member of the epic clic gear train. The escapement may be of any suitable construction and need',.not be further described in connection with the complete apparatus since its elements correspond to those shown in Fig. 1 and are designated by corresponding reference characters.

The top plate 56 carries a member 60for use in mounting the apparatus upon the mechanism adapted to be driven by the prime mover. In case the-prime mover is an electric motor the resistance 23 used in connection therewith may be conveniently mounted upon a plate 61 of insulating material attached to the member 60. The terminals of the resistance are connected to suitable binding plates 62 mounted upon the insulating plate 61 and serving also as terminals for the leads 41 and 42 leading to the contact device of the apparatus. The contact point 40 which has previously been referred to as the fixedcontact point is in the complete apparatus made adjustable as by being in the form of a screw adapted to pass through a split post 63 by which it may be clamped in any desired position of adjustment.

The arm on which the movable contact point 39 is carried and which in Figs. 1 and 2 has been designated generally by the' reference number 38 is, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, made up of several parts. The contact point 39 is mounted upon a part 64 which is connected to a second part 65 but insulated therefrom by suitable bushings 66 of non-conducting material. The lead 41 leading to one terminal of the resistance 23 is connected to one of the clamping screws 67 and is therefore in electrical connection with the part 64 which carries the contact point 39. The bell crank lever 35 is made up of two similar parallel members connected to opposite ends of a hub 68 mounted upon a pivot pin 69 projecting from the front plate 54 of the apparatus. The spring 36 is connected at one end to a rod 70 extending between the members of the bell crank lever and at the other end to a pin 71 projecting from the front plate 54. The roller 34 is mounted between the two members of the lever 35 .upon a pin 72 and is held by the spring- 36 against the periphery of the hexagonal cam mounted upon one end of the shaft 15 which carries the spider of the epicyclic gear train.

The upper endof the part 65 is bifurcated and is pivotally mounted upon a pin 73 extending between the two members of the lever 35. The bifurcated end of the part 65 is formed with offset portions 74 between which 'is a pin 75 lying between arms 76 and 77 pivoted upon the in 73 and con nected at their free ends y a spring 78. A spring 7 9 is connected between the free end of the arm 76 and'a point on one of the members of the bell crank lever 35.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 to 6 and described above, the first member 11 of the epicyclic gear train is driven by the motor which is to be regulated through the gear 59, shaft 18, and pinion 17. The spring 36 acting through the bell crank lever 35 holds the roller 34 in contact with the cam 33 thus applying a torque to the shaft 15 of the third member of the gear train. The second member 12 of the gear train will thus be driven from the first member 11 through the pinions 13 and 13 to drive the escapement 27. Whenever the speed of the motor exceeds the predetermined value for which it is to be re lated there will be a movement-of the spider 14 about the axis of the shaft 15 which will This result is obtained by the mechanism shown most clearly in Fig. 6 in which the parts are illustrated in the position they 00- cupy when the contacts are separated and the roller 34 is at one of the high pomts of the cam 33. As the cam rotates the roller 34 will move toward the axis of the cam under the influence of the spring 36, and the bell crank lever.35 and all of the parts mounted thereon will turn 7 about the pin 69 as a pivot'thus carrying the contact point 39 toward the fixed contact point 40. The parts will be so constructed that the contact points will come into engagement shortly before the roller 34 reaches the central "point A of the cam face with which it is in engagement, the position of the roller at this time being indicated by the broken line B while the corresponding position of the contact point 39 is indicated by the broken dicated by the broken line D corresponding.

to the central point A of the cam face, but during this further movement of the bell crank lever the contact point 39 will be moved parallel to the face of the contact point'40 due to the fact that its former movement is limited by the last named contact point, but the pin 73 by which the parts and 64 are attached to the bell crank lever moves with the lever as the roller moves from osition B to D. During this movement of the parts the pin 75 between the bifurcated offset portions of the part 65 will be pressed against the lowerarm 77 thus slightly moving this arm against the tension of the spring 78, the other end of which is connected to the arm 76 which bears against the hub 68 which serves as a stop for this arm.

As a result of the actions described above the contactpoint 39 will first move erpendicularly to the contact point 40 untl it has described above will take place in reverse.

order. There will first be a wiping movement of the contact point 39 over the face of the contact point 40 as the roller 34 passes from the position corresponding to the broken line D to that corresponding to the broken line B after which the contact points will be separated as the roller 34 rides toward the corner of the cam face. Durin this movement of the roller, the bell cra lever 35 on which the roller is mounted together with the other parts mounted on the lever will turn about the pin 69 as a unit.

As in the operation of the ap aratus shown in the simplified diagrams w enever the resistance 23 is inserted in the circuit of the motor the speed of the latter will be suificiently reduced to cause a reverse movement of the third member, or spider 14, of the epicyclic gear train to turn the cam 33 in the direction to permit the contact oint 39 to be brought into engagement wit the contact point 40 to establish the short-cireuit' about the resistance 23 to allow the speed of the motor to increase. The sequence of operations will then be repeated and this action will continue as long as the motor is in operation with the result that its speed will be accurately regulated within lnnits the closeness of which will depend upon the characteristics of the apparatus and its adjustment.

limiting device may be connected to the member 13 of the epicyclic gear train and the torque may be applied to the member 12, in which case the movement of the last named member relative to the other two as a result of changes in speed of the prime mover would be utilized for actuating the contact device. Various other changes in the arrangement of the apparatus and in its de-' tails of construction may be made without departing from the principle of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, an epicyclic gear train to one mem-- ber of which the prime mover is connected, speed limiting mechanism connected to another member of the gear train, means for applying a substantially constant torque to a third member of the gear train, means for altering the speed of the prime mover, and

means actuated by movement of the third member for controlling the speed altering means.

2. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, an epic clic gear train to one mem-.

ber of which t e prime mover is connected, speed limiting mechanism connected to another member of the gear train, means for applying, a substantially constant torque to a third member of the gear train, electrical means for altering the speed of the prime mover, and a contact device associated with the torque applying means for controlling the electrical means.

3. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, an epicyclic gear train to one member of which the prime moved is connected, speed limiting mechanism connected to another member of the ear train, means for ap lying a substantially constanttorque to a third member of the gear train, means for altering the speed of the prime mover, and means associated with the torque applying means and adapted to be actuated by movement of the third member, for controlling the speed altering means.

4. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, an e icyclic gear train to one member ofwhic the prime mover is connected,

speed limiting mechanism connected to a second member of the gear tram, means for applying a force to the third member of the gear train to cause the speed limiting mechanism to be driven by the prime mover, andmeans actuated by the movement of the third member for controlling the speed of the prime mover.

5. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, an epicyclic gear train to one member of which the prime mover is connected, speed limiting mechanism connected to a second member of the gear train, means for applying a force to the third member of the 7 gear train to cause the speed limiting mechanism to be driven by the prime mover, electrical means for altering the speed of the rlme mover and a contact device actuated y the movement of. the third member for controlling the electrical means.

6. In speed regulating apparatus, a primemover, an epicyclic gear train to one member of which the prime mover is connected, speed hmiting mechanism connected to a second member of the gear train, a cam assomated with the third member of the gear train, a lever coacting with the cam, means for exerting a force upon the lever to apply a torque to the third member of the train, to cause the speed limiting mechanism to be driven by the prime mover, electrical means for altering the speed of the prime mover, and a contact device having a part associated with the lever for controlling the speed altering means by movement of the third member of the gear train and the cam associated therewith.

7. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, a gear train consisting of a pair of members adapted to rotate about a common axle and a third member coacting with the members of the pair and adapted to turn about the common axis, means for connect mg the prime mover to one of the members of the pair, speed limiting mechanism connected to the other member of the air, means for applying a torque to the t ird member to cause the speed limiting device to be driven by the prime mover, and means 110 for controlling the prime mover including a .part adapted to be actuated by the turning of the third member when the speed of the prime mover differs from that permitted by the s eed limiting mechanism.

' 8. peed regulating apparatus, comprising a motor, an epicyclic gear train, connections between one member of the gear train and the motor, speed limiting mechanism, connections between a second member of the gear train and the mechanism, a contact device for cont-rolling the circuit of the motor, means associated with the third member of the gear train for operating the contact device, and means for applying a substantially constant torque to the third memher in order that the mechanism may be. driven by the motor and the position of the third member may be changed in accordance with changes in speed of the motor.

9. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, an epic-yclic gear train toone member of which the prime mover is connected, an escape-ment device connected to another member of the gear train, means for applyin a substantially constant torque to a thlrd member of the gear train, means for altering the speed of the prime mover, and

means actuated by movement of the third member for controlling the speed altering means.

10. In speed regulating apparatus, a motor, a circuit therefor, an epicyclic gear train to one member of which the motor is connected, speed limiting mechanism connected to another member of the gear train, means for applying a substantially constant torque to a third member of the gear train, a resistance in circuit with the motor, a short-circuiting connection about the resistance adapted to be open, and means actu-' ated by movement of the third member for controlling a short circuit about the resistance.

11. Speed regulating apparatus, comprising a prime mover, an epicyclic gear train and speed limiting mechanism, said gear.

train being provided with means for applying a torqueto one member thereof and said speed limiting mechanism being connected to another member of the train in order that said mechanism may be driven by the prime mover which is connected to a third member of the train, and means whereby movement of the member to which the torque is applied controls the speed of the prime mover.

12. In speed regulating apparatus, a. prime mover, an epicyclic gear train to one member of which the prime mover is connected, speed limit-ing mechanism connected to another member of the gear train, means for applying a substantially constant torque to a third member of the gear train while permitting said member to turn with respect to the other members of the train, means for altering the speed of the prime mover, and means actuated by movement of the third member for controlling the speed altering means.

13. In speed regulating apparatus, a prime mover, an epicyclic gear train to one member of which the prime mover is connected, speed limiting mechanism connected to a second member of the gear train, a member associated with the third member of the gear train and provided with a plurality of fiat faces, a lever coacting with the faces of themember, means for exerting a force upon the lever to apply a torque to said third member to cause the speed limiting mechanism to be driven by the prime mover, while permitting the member associated with the third :member of the gear train to turn with respect to the other members of the train, means for altering the speed of the prime mover and means under the control of the lever for controlling the speedaltering means by movement of the third member of the gear train and the membe associated therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HANNIBAL C. FORD. 

